The US and its allies struck civil and military facilities in Syria, violating the UN Charter and international law, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, responding to the American-French-British intervention in Syria.

Washington launched “an aggression against a sovereign state which is at the forefront of the fight against terrorism,” the statement from the president said. Putin stressed that the multi-national strikes were not sanctioned by the UN Security Council, and were carried out “in violation of the UN Charter and principles of international law.”

Washington and its allies unleashed the bombardment in the early hours of Saturday in retaliation for the alleged chemical attack by the Assad government in the town of Douma, 10 kilometers from Damascus, last week. The strikes were conducted before a team of investigators from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was due to reach Douma to determine whether the attack had indeed taken place.

Syrian air defense systems have intercepted the majority of cruise missiles and air-surface missiles from the allies, the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier, adding that none of its own air defense units were involved in repelling the attack. According to the latest data from the Russian MoD, Syria intercepted at least 71 cruise missiles out of the 103 launched by the allies on Saturday… … …(read more)… … …

The high-precision hypersonic aircraft missile system Kinzhal. The missile flies at a hypersonic speed, 10 times faster than the speed of sound; it can also manoeuvre during all phases of its flight trajectory, which also allows it to overcome anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence systems, delivering nuclear and conventional warheads within a range of over 2,000 kilometres. On December 1, 2017 these systems began their trial service from the airfields of Russia’s Southern Military District.

An intercontinental nuclear unmanned submersible vehicle, which can move at great depths intercontinentally, at a speed multiple times higher than the speed of submarines, cutting-edge torpedoes and all kinds of surface vessels, including some of the fastest. They can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. An innovative nuclear power unit for this unmanned underwater vehicle completed a test cycle in December 2017.

The strategic hypersonic missile system Avangard – a successfully tested gliding wing unit is capable of intercontinental flight at supersonic speeds in excess of Mach 20. The gliding cruise bloc can travel intercontinental distances and engages in intensive manoeuvring – both lateral and vertical, practically in conditions of plasma formation. The temperature on its surface reaches 1,600–2,000 degrees Celsius.

The revealed weapons have already passed state trials, passed into service and were put on trial combat duty. These systems will be used for two main purposes:

To intercept strategic missiles from a potential aggressor at various altitudes;
To allow the strategic nuclear forces to conduct strikes using aero, aerospace and submersible vehicles. These vehicles will be used to overcome missile defences and to deliver unacceptable damage to the armed forces and infrastructure of the enemy. They can engage various targets right in the hearth of the enemy’s territory, to destroy aircraft groups, coastal fortifications, HQs, possibly a satellites constellation and other targets…. … …

The idea of a nuclear-powered projectile is hardly new. The US tried to develop one as part of Project Pluto in the early 1960s, but abandoned it since strategic missiles with chemical propellants proved to be a more viable alternative. Russia has reportedly made a breakthrough in this technology, becoming the first nation to bring it to maturity.

Putin also said that miniaturization of a nuclear reactor gave Russia another advanced weapons system in the form of a high-endurance underwater drone. The drone can dive “really very deep” and travel between continents at a speed that is several times higher than that of a submarine, a modern torpedo or even a surface ship, he said.

According to the president, such drones can attack enemy aircraft carrier groups, shoreline defenses or infrastructure, and cannot be countered by any defense system in the world. Both conventional and nuclear-tipped versions can be made, he said.

In December 2017, Russia completed the trials of a nuclear reactor which gives the drones such capabilities. The reactor is “100 times smaller” than those used by nuclear-propelled submarines and generates more power, Putin said. It can also reach its peak power 200 times faster than a conventional nuclear power plant.

The video shown for this weapon system didn’t include any actual test, but presumably the claimed miniaturization of a nuclear reactor, which was used for the cruise missile, can also work for a watercraft.

Putin then showcased two variants of a hypersonic weapons systems already developed by Russia. One is an air-launched vehicle that is already deployed in southern Russia for test combat duty. The projectile travels at a speed of Mach-10 and has a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles). The weapon, which is called Kinzhal (“dagger” in Russian) is available in conventional and nuclear forms, Putin said. A video shown to the audience included the moment the weapon was deployed by a fighter jet and the fire from its engine.

Another weapon that is being developed, but which was not shown being tested because its appearance is classified, according to Putin, is a hypersonic glider warhead deployed from space. Russia first tested one back in 2004 and has made significant progress since, the president said. The glider can fly in the atmosphere at speeds of over Mach-20 and can withstand a heat of up to 2,000C (3,632F) generated by air fiction. The system is in series production and is called Avangard (“advance guard” in Russian).

The last weapon system showcased by Putin during his speech was a combat laser, which he said Russia had started to deploy last year. A small video clip showed what presumably is an anti-aircraft laser system, but no test footage was shown.

… “To those who for the last 15 years have been trying to fan an arms race, achieve unilateral advantage against Russia, impose sanctions, which are illegal from the standpoint of international law and are aimed at holding back the development of our country, including in the military area, I have this to say: All the things you were trying to prevent through your policies have already happened. You have failed to hold Russia back,”Putin said.

“You now have to acknowledge this reality, confirm that everything I said is no bluff – which it isn’t – think for some time, send into retirement the people stuck in the past and incapable of looking into the future, [and] stop rocking the boat that we all ride in and which is called planet Earth,”he said. “Russia would be responsive if talked to as an equal partner”, Putin added.

Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces reportedly test fired a RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on October 25, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Russian military analysts believe that the launch might have been a test of a new hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), the YU-71, also known as Project 4202, a warhead purportedly capable of penetrating any missile defense shield…. … …

The gliding phase enables the YU-71 HGV not only to maneuver aerodynamically – performing “extreme maneuvers” and evading interception – but also extends the range of the missile.

(Ruptly, 1 March 2018) ~ Russian President Vladimir Putin (Russian):“Currently the Ministry of Defence and the enterprises of the rocket and space industry began the active phase of the tests of the new missile complex carrying heavy ICBM. We named it Sarmat. This complex will replace the Voevoda complex which was created in Soviet Union. Everyone always acknowledged his high combat power. As you know our foreign colleagues even gave it a rather threatening name. But the capabilities of the Sarmat missile is far higher. At a weight of over 200 tones it has a short active part of the flight which makes it’s interception with missile defence systems difficult. The range of the missile, the quantity and the power of the combat parts is higher than Voevoda has. Sarmat will be equipped with a wide range of nuclear munition of high power, including hypersonic munition and the most modern systems of missile defence overcoming. High characteristics of the launching pads security and high energy capabilities will make the use of this complex in any conditions. Video please”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Russian):“Voevoda has the range limit of 11,000 kilometres, and the new system practically has no range limits. As you can see in the video it is capable of attacking the targets both through the North and through the South poles. Sarmat is very formidable weapon. According to its characteristics there are no such missile defence, even a perspective one, that can be an obstacle to it”.

(RT 1 March 2018) ~ Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is delivering a regular address to the Federal Assembly – a joint session of the two chambers of the Russian Parliament.

The US arrogance stemmed from the losses this country suffered with the break-up of the Soviet Union, Putin said. Russia’s position in the 1990s was so weak that the Americans didn’t believe it could recover anytime soon, so Washington decided to achieve total military superiority, which would allow it to dictate terms in other areas.

The US continues to develop its antiballistic missile capabilities, and this undermines the value of the nuclear reduction agreements, like the New START treaty. The US is working hard on its ability to intercept missiles.

Russia’s response to this threat was to develop new and better strategic weapons, with improved counter-measures that make them harder to intercept. Russia has also developed the new heavy ICBM known as Sarmat, which is to replace the ageing missiles Russia currently has.

The capability of Sarmat was showcased in a video shown to the audience. The video showed that the missile can attack American territory not only from the north but also from the south, making it a better deterrent to American ambitions.

The address moved to security issues. Putin outlined the massive upgrade of the Russian military and the successes Russian forces achieved in Syria.

Russia also has working laser weapon systems, Putin said, adding that it is too early to go into details on this particular issue. The weapon is yet to be named, he said.

The glider warhead can reach the speed of Mach-20 and has high maneuvering capabilities that make it immune to all anti-missile weapons existing today, Putin added. “It’s like a fireball guided to its target,” he explained. He said the video showing the new weapon was computer-generated to keep its actual appearance secret, but assured this weapon is working and is being serially produced. The glider is called Avangard (vanguard).

Russia has developed a hypersonic gliding warhead

Even that is not all: Still another new weapon that Russia has developed is a hypersonic gliding warhead, Putin said. He added he had personally and openly warned that Russia was working on ways to counter American anti-missile capabilities as early as 2004. But the US chose to ignore this warning and didn’t want to listen to those words. “You will listen to us now,” he said.

Another advanced weapon system Russia now has is a hypersonic missile, Putin said. The system has finished its trials and is currently deployed in pilot mode in southern Russia. The missile is launched from an aircraft and reaches a speed of Mach-10 while maneuvering to pierce through anti-aircraft systems. The weapon is called Kinzhal (=’dagger’) and can be fitted with a nuclear warhead. A video demonstrated the weapon’s capabilities.

Russia is yet to choose names for these two weapon systems; the global cruise missile and the underwater drone. The defense ministry encourages people to volunteer their suggestions, Putin said.

Yet another weapon is an underwater drone with great endurance and stealth capabilities, with a nuclear reactor smaller and more powerful than earlier models, Putin said. The drone can counter enemy aircraft carrier groups and attack shoreline defenses.

Another response is a new, powerful nuclear reactor which can be mounted on a sea-launched or air-launched cruise missile and greatly boost its range. The range is basically limitless, Putin said as a video was shown illustrating his words.

Russia is developing strategic missiles in response to the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Putin said. Moscow objected to the US move, but Washington nevertheless went ahead. The ABM Treaty was insurance against a pre-emptive nuclear strike by either side. The US withdrawal in 2002 was a bad move, Putin said, but Russia sought ways to control the damage done by it. The US was unresponsive and all those attempts failed, Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian forces participating in the task of combating terrorist organizations in Syria, in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Army, have succeeded in achieving victory over dangerous and massive terrorist organizations and eliminating them.

(Vesti News) ~ The new self-propelled howitzer Koalitsiya is being tested in the Sverdlovsk Oblast. The 50-ton novelty has unique characteristics. Its NATO analogs are far behind in range and speed of shooting.

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President Vladimir Putin in his New Year’s Address to the Nation wished Russians important changes, and thanked them for believing in Russia. The President’s traditional speech went on air in the easternmost time zone of the country, where the year 2018 has already come. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin wished his compatriots “changes for the better” in 2018 in his traditional televised New Year’s address Sunday. “Let the New Year bring changes for the better in the life of every person and every family,” Putin told Russians in a speech aired by state television and reported by Russian agencies. Residents of the country’s most easternly region of Kamchatka will be the first to hear the speech that is shown a few minutes before midnight in each of Russia’s eleven time zones. The Russian leader addressed “special wishes” to “all of those who are working now, fulfilling their military or professional duty,” agencies reported. He also thanked Russians for “believing in themselves and in our country.” He also wished “peace and prosperity to our great Russia, the dear and only one.”

“The Homeland is proud of you! You are returning victorious to your homes!”

This memory will continue to motivate us to eradicate this absolute evil [terrorism] whatever face it hides behind.

President Putin said that he had ordered the Defense Minister and the Chief of General Staff to start the withdrawal of part of the Russian group of soldiers present in Syria, adding that this decision has been taken in light of the decisive victories achieved by the Syrian army and the Russian forces in the war against terrorism, on top, defeating and expelling Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization from all Syrian territories.

He congratulated President al-Assad and the Syrian people on those victories after years of steadfastness and struggle, affirming that Russia is determined to go ahead in offering each available support to Syria until restoring security and stability to all Syrian areas, adding that if terrorists appeared again in Syria, Russian forces will carry out strikes that “they’ve never seen”.

Vladimir Putin has confirmed that he will seek another term in office in next year’s presidential election.

“Yes, I will run as a candidate for the Russian presidency,” Putin said. He was meeting with workers at the country’s historic manufacturer, GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday.

“Our country is its people, people like you,” the Russian leader said, addressing workers and veterans of the plant. “It’s workers, scientists, engineers, designers, teachers and doctors,” Putin said, adding that with the “active involvement” of its people, Russia “can deal with any, even the most complex challenges it faces.”

“Russia will go only forward and no one will ever stop it,” he added.

“When I make [the decision], I will certainly keep in mind our conversation today and your reaction,” Putin said. He added that “the motive behind [this very responsible decision] can be only the desire to make people’s lives in our country better and make the country itself more powerful and protected.”

The Russian president enjoys a high approval rating, with over 82 percent of Russians supporting him [according to a poll conducted by state-run VTSIOM]

Assad, Putin meeting could mean end of Syrian war is close
[interview with anti-war activist, Brian Becker]

Syrian President Bashar Assad met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the resort city of Sochi, Russia on Monday. The two leaders spent three hours discussing military operations in Syria and the fight against terrorism in the Middle East. Brian Becker of the anti-war ANSWER Coalition, tells RT America’s Anya Parampil that the meeting could signify that the six-year Syrian War is coming to a close.

President Bashar al-Assad, during a work visit he paid to Russia on Tuesday, held a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi City in presence of senior Russian political and military officials.
President Putin congratulated President al-Assad on the successes achieved by Syria in the framework of combating terrorism, and on approaching victory over terrorism by the Syrian people.

President al-Assad indicated that the victories achieved against terrorism led to the return of security to many areas and subsequently, citizens returned to them and the wheel of normal life began to move again, in addition to pushing the political track forwards to find solution to the crisis in Syria.
President al-Assad conveyed thanks by the Syrian people to President Putin and the friendly and loyal Russian people for what Russia has done to protect the Syrians in face of terrorism, and to protect the unity of the Syrian territories, in addition to what the Russian institutions have done to support the Syrian people in all domains, particularly the military institution which has made a lot of sacrifices to protect the sovereignty and independence of Syria and its territorial integrity.

President Putin expressed Russia’s high appreciation for the readiness expressed by the Syrian Government and its openness on whoever wants peace and for the support provided by President al-Assad to Astana process in which the participants succeeded in establishing de-escalation zones and starting dialogue with all the Syrian parties… … …

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said that currently the situation in Lebanon is under control, and that Moscow does not expect military escalation there.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on November 4 in a declaration read from Saudi Arabia, pushing Lebanon back to the forefront of a regional struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Zasypkin added that in the case of a new military action against Lebanon-based Hezbollah organization, Israel will “suffer substantial casualties”.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia accused Iran of conducting acts of “direct military aggression” and accused Lebanon of “declaring war” on Riyadh by allowing Hezbollah “aggression” against the kingdom.

A warlike rhetoric against Iran, Lebanon and Hezbollah are a clear sign of this. While Iran is a potent regional power in military and diplomatic terms, Hezbollah is a non-state actor. So, Riyadh may choose the group as an enemy for its risky foreign policy undertaking.

Saudi Arabia and Israel are obvious allies in their will to destroy Hezbollah. On November 5, Tel Aviv started the largest-ever aerial exercise in the history of Israel.

A leaked diplomatic cable confirmed that the Saudis and Israelis are coordinating their efforts against Iran and Hezbollah thus escalating the already tense situation in the Middle East.

The region may be heading for another large-scale military conflict… … …

Russian genetic material is being harvested all over the country, purposefully and professionally, President Vladimir Putin has said, possibly hinting at the US Air Force’s earlier move to acquire Russian tissue samples.

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Here are graffiti birthday wishes for Vladimir Putin from Paris and Barcelona. The Barcelona one reads: “Every people has a right to self-determination.” The Paris one resembles a Soviet poster and reads: “Happy birthday, pacifist!”

Israel’s justice minister has warned the Syrian government that Israel “will do what is necessary” if President Bashar al-Assad does not keep Russia out of Syria. Ayelet Shaked said that If Putin wants to survive, he needs to keep his millitary forces out of Syria’.

“Israel needs to pressure world powers to not allow Russia to establish a strong presence in Syria”, Shaked told Herzliya’s International Institute on Counterterrorism Conference.

If the world powers did not comply with this demand, she said, then “Israel will do what we need to do”. The threats towards Syria come a time when pro-government forces have all but extinguished the presence of ISIS in Syria and are getting close to completely ending the six year long war.. … …

Trump Signs Sanctions Bill – Another Deep State Victory

President Trump signed the Russia, Iran, North Korea sanctions bill, which restricts his ability to improve relations with any of the three countries absent explicit Congressional approval. Is the deep state in total control of U.S. foreign policy?

PUTIN STRIKES BACK: Hundreds of U.S. Diplomatic Staff to be Expelled From Russia

Moscow has told the US to reduce the number of its diplomatic staff in Russia from 1100 to 455 people, and is also halting the use of embassy storage facilities in the capital, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russian marine officers and sailors in St. Petersburg, Sunday, to mark the occasion of Russia’s Navy Day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends St. Petersburg’s maritime parade on Navy Day on Sunday, July 30. Around 50 ships of the Russian Navy and 70 aircraft of the naval aviation unit will take part in this year’s maritime parade.

Putin praised the troops, saying “Today, the Navy solves not only the traditional tasks, but also adequately meets new challenges, makes a significant contribution to the fight against terrorism, piracy.”

More than 50 ships and submarines took part in the parade, while more than 40 planes and helicopters flew above the city.

Navy Day is celebrated in Russia on July 30 with military parades taking place across the country. The celebration dates back to the Soviet era, having been established in 1939. It was stopped in 1980 then reinstated by Putin in 2003.

TURN ON ENGLISH SUBTITLESThe new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia is “extremely cynical,” President Vladimir Putin said, accusing Washington of using its political advantage for business purposes.

The Flemish Father Daniël Maes (78) lives in Syria in the sixth-century-old Mar Yakub monastery in the city of Qara, 90 kilometers north of the capital Damascus. Father Daniel has been a witness to the “civil war” and according to him, Western reports on the conflict in Syria are very misleading. In short: “the Americans and their allies want to completely ruin the country”.

Father Daniel: “The idea that a popular uprising took place against President Assad is completely false. I’ve been in Qara since 2010 and I have seen with my own eyes how agitators from outside Syria organized protests against the government and recruited young people. That was filmed and aired by Al Jazeera to give the impression that a rebellion was taking place. Murders were committed by foreign terrorists, against the Sunni and Christian communities, in an effort to sow religious and ethnic discord among the Syrian people. While in my experience, the Syrian people were actually very united”.

Father Daniel: Before the war, this was a harmonious country: a secular state in which different religious communities lived side by side peacefully. There was hardly any poverty, education was free, and health care was good. It was only not possible to freely express your political views. But most people did not care about that.”

Father Daniel: When thousands of terrorists settled in Qara, we became afraid for our lives. They came from the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Turkey, Libya, there were many Chechens. They formed a foreign occupation force, all allied to al-Qaeda and other terrorists. Armed to the teeth by the West and their allies with the intention to act against us, they literally said: “This country belongs to us now.” Often, they were drugged, they fought each other, in the evening they fired randomly. We had to hide in the crypts of the monastery for a long time. When the Syrian army chased them away, everybody was happy………………..

Behind the Headlines: NATO Slaughter – James and Joanne Moriarty expose the truth about what happened in Libya. If you were a journalist in Libya during this time you were relatively safe; not because these animals respected journalists as neutral observers, but because the journalists were on their side. The Moriartys have evidence of embedded journalists, not least from Qatar-owned Al Jazeera, whose staff were among the terrorists from day one, personally calling in airstrikes and working side-by-side with the terrorists……………………………

The moment before Russian president Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump locked palms has been compared to a scene from the popular political drama ‘House of Cards.’

A special channel between the Russian and American presidents will be established to further push for a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov has announced following the Putin-Trump meeting.

“I have a feeling that it has been confirmed that both the Russian and American presidents are driven by their national interests, which they see primarily in looking for mutually beneficial agreements rather than by trying to play out some confrontational scenarios”, Lavrov added

Lavrov said that there’s confirmation to the US and Jordan’s commitment to the unity and integrity of Syrian territory, adding that Russian military police will preserve security around de-escalation zones…………………………

Moscow has been more than patient…. … … Evidently, Russia has finally seen the light and understands inviting U.S. officials for a discussion on the whims and airy ideas Washington conjures up out of thin air, and usually on the spur of the moment, is ineffective and a total waste of time.

Russia has canceled talks that were set for this coming Friday between Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, and the No. 3 U.S. diplomat, Thomas A. Shannon, Jr.

Ryabkov said that “the situation is not conducive to holding a round of this dialogue,” criticizing the U.S. for “not having offered … anything specific” to discuss.

“We have said from the very beginning of Washington’s exceptionally destructive policy in regard to applying anti-Russia sanctions, that [such measures] will not and cannot have an effect desired by the US on our individuals or entities,” Ryabkov told RIA Novosti Tuesday.

Ryabkov also added that Moscow “will judge the US administration’s policy towards Russia by its actions” rather than by any statements, promises or “hints,” and the latest moves “speak for themselves.”

As Putin said: “If there were no situation with Crimea and other problems, they would have invented something else to contain Russia”……………………….

Question: Indeed, Russia and the other parties differ on the Syrian issue regarding primarily the fate of Bashar al-Assad, whom the Western countries have accused of using chemical weapons against his own people. Mr President, can you envision Syria’s political future without Bashar al-Assad?

Vladimir Putin: I do not think I have the right to determine the political future of Syria, be it with or without al-Assad. This is for the Syrians themselves to decide. Nobody has the right to claim the rights that belong to the people of another country. This is the first thing I wanted to say.

If chemical weapons were used by President al-Assad’s official agencies, modern verification equipment would certainly find traces of this at the airfield. For certain. These traces would be found in the aircraft and at the airfield. However, everyone refused to conduct such an inspection.

We also proposed sending inspectors to the site of the alleged chemical attack. But they refused as well, claiming that it was dangerous. Why is this dangerous if the attack was delivered at an area where peaceful civilians live and the healthy part of the armed opposition is deployed?

In my opinion, the accusations have been made for the sole purpose of justifying the use of additional measures, including military ones, against al-Assad. That is all. There is no proof that al-Assad has used chemical weapons. We firmly believe that that this is a provocation. President al-Assad did not use chemical weapons…………………

Trump took a tour of the Holy Sepulcher Church like a museum and posed for photos. There is nothing wrong about praying at the Wailing Wall, but why didn’t he kneel at Jesus’ tomb or his Stone of Anointing or the actual Holy Sepulcher? Has any US president ever knelt there??? Let us know. (more videos of Putin here)

Russian warships positioning in the Mediterranean Sea fired four cruise missiles at Daesh (ISIL, ISIS, IS…) positions in Palmyra countryside in the in the eastern countryside of Homs province.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that frigate Admiral Essen and submarine Krasnodar from the Russian Navy Fleet fired last night 4 Kalibr cruise missiles on ISIS positions near Palmyra, hitting all their targets, noting that the submarine fired the missiles from the seabed.

The missiles destroyed heavy equipment and killed fighters that Islamic State had transferred from its stronghold, Raqqa, to Palmyra, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.

The Russian warships, a frigate named Admiral Essen and submarine named Krasnodar, fired Kalibr cruise missiles on combat vehicles and militants outside the Syrian city of Palmyra, the Defense Ministry said.

The four cruise missiles were fired from the eastern Mediterranean, it noted in a statement. The submarine fired its missiles while submerged.

Russian jets also destroyed a large Daesh convoy attempting to escape the Syrian city of Raqqa and roll towards Palmyra. Dozens of vehicles carrying heavy weaponry manned by over 80 terrorists were hit, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

On Monday night, three Daesh convoys left Raqqa heading south towards Palmyra, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Thursday statement.

The airstrikes were called in after the movements were spotted by reconnaissance units.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview with French publication Le Figaro, has revealed that a US president is more often than not just a figurehead of government. A certain person may be elected by the public on the basis of his merit and ideals – but rarely is this person able to formulate policy. Putin explained that the ‘bureaucracy’ in the US, which is more commonly known as the Deep State, is very powerful and as such does not allow any real change in direction.

“Presidents come and go, but the politics remains the same.” As such, an individual, who may have his own genuine ideas, is elected into the White House only to satisfy the illusion of a democratic process taking place. In reality, “men in dark suits”, who remain anonymous to the voting public, continue to pursue the well-established interests of the US elite with each incoming administration.

The Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed some 120 Daesh (banned in Russia) militants trying to escape the violent group’s self-proclaimed capital city of Raqqa in Syria, a military source told Sputnik.

The radical mercenary-terrorists were eliminated by Russian airstrikes on May 25, while fleeing from Syria’s Raqqa for Palmyra, according to a source in the Russian Defense Ministry. The source revealed that the convoy of 39 pick-up trucks armed with large-caliber machine-guns was heading out of the city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has fulfilled his promise and personally awarded Russian Special Forces’ fighters who have been repelling an attack by terrorists in Syria for two days, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

May 10 saw four officers from the Russian Defense Ministry’s Special Operations Forces awarded medals for showing extraordinary courage combatting terrorists in Syria’s Aleppo, according to Russia’s Rossiya-24 television channel. The relevant decree was earlier issued by Putin.

According to media reports, 16 Russian Spetsnaz officers entered the frontline in the province of Aleppo to transfer the coordinates of targets for airstikes. They were attacked by militants. Terrorists used Grad systems, artillery, mortars and a tank to attack the Russian military……………………

A newborn Syrian baby was given the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Sahnaya village, near Damascus, after being born on Saturday. The toddler’s father, Nawras Mihoub, said, “On the day of the fallen heroes [6th of May], God sent us our baby, and we named him Vladimir Putin as the expression of our friendship and love to the role which our Russian friends played in the help to the Syrian Arab Army”.

Iran, Turkey and Russia have signed a memorandum on the creation of four security zones in Syria during another round of the peace talks in Astana on May 4.

According to the document, security zones were proposed in the province of Idlib, in the area north of the city of Homs, in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus and in southern Syria.

“Guarantors within five days after signing the memorandum will create a working group at the level of authorized representatives to determine the boundaries of disarmament, areas of tension and security areas, as well as to address technical issues related to the implementation of the memorandum,” the text of the document reads.

All technical issues, including borders of the zones, should be solved until May 22. The next round of the Astana peace talks will take place in mid-July when the trilateral group will report about the process of the reconciliation.

If the initiative achieves at least partly success, this will likely mean that in May or June the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allied forces, backed up by Russia and Iran, will launch a large operation against ISIS (ISIL, Daesh) in central Syria, aiming to reach the key city of Deir Ezzor besieged by ISIS. However, these will be possible only if the situation near Damascus, Daraa and Homs will be calm.

The SAA, led by the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard, stormed the remaining militant defense lines in the southeastern part of the Qaboun district in eastern Damascus and captured a number of buildings from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Al-Rahman Corps……………………….

NOTICE TO READERS

These infos are not intended to be shocking or to glorify violence in any way. These articles/images/videos are for educational purposes only, for documenting and try to explain the backdrop of a historical ruthless and bloody war, whose characteristics and details are routinely distorted and smothered by the dominant media.